Beijing over the past 4 years has
slowly been transforming itself into a modern world-class capital city.
Old run-down apartment buildings and hutongs are being cleared to make way for
huge new office and apartment complexes.

Over the past year, the process has
been increasing at an alarming rate. Now, as people see the progress, and
the likelihood of a new fashionable, modern Beijing emerging, people are
flocking to invest in their own shiny new "almost" world-class apartment.
Huge new office buildings are also being planned and built, although profitable
companies might not quite be around in numbers sufficient to justify them as
yet. Time will tell.

It is sad that some of the more
traditional housing and retail spaces will be destroyed, but it is
unfortunately, inevitable. For the western traveler who wants to
experience a little of the simpler times of yesteryear by visiting or living in
China it may be sad, but for the average Beijing resident, who's lived most of
their life with a poor standard of living, maybe even total poverty, the chance
of living in their own house, with their own car and great job might easily be
tradable for the loss of this small historic significance.